Schumacher returns...for real this time

[Dannyboy]

The Man is back.  Just signed with Ross Brawn's Mercedes GP team.  I really wanted to see him in a Ferrari again but it will still be cool seeing him racing again in Montreal next year and hopefully (fingers crossed) Monza.

The return of Schumacher and the exit of Max "make it hurt" Mosley, along with some rule changes make me look forward to F1 next year.

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=39715

[EvilSteve]

Good stuff, should be interesting.

[superjohn]

I honestly don't know how I feel about this. I liked that he went out on the top of his game and didn't just fade, but at the same time I am hoping he's still competitive .

[Oldfisti]

With Ross Brawn there is a distinct possibility that he will be competitive.


I totally understand where you are coming from though.

[gm2]

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/155603/1/schumacher_f1_signing_slammed_by_mercedes_board.html

[superjohn]

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/155603/1/schumacher_f1_signing_slammed_by_mercedes_board.html

Ouch. At least Michael isn't getting the $40M+ he was getting as a driver at Ferrari.

I can see their point though. F1 is all fine and dandy for a manufacturer to participate in as long as times are good, but it's become very very expensive to keep up with McLaren and Ferrari. And now that the rules are tighter that Max Mosely's fur covered handcuffs, it's really difficult to "out innovate" on a budget.

[Speeddog]

Mercedes' purchase of a majority stake in Brawn is an *investment*, probably not the best in the world, but the money's not burned.

The money spent on Schumi, and spent on running the team, well, that's burned, but the return is the advertising they get from it.

I suspect it's Mercedes' way of trying to get a little more traction with younger buyers.
Trying to avoid Cadillac's dilemma...

[gm2]

it's certainly not chump change but i think even in tough times paying schumi $11.2 million is a bargain, considering the press they've already gotten, the amount of interest it'll generate in F1 next year, and ultimately the increased number of brains (even absent-mindedly) thinking "mercedes..."

imagine if some NHL team was able to bring back gretsky for a year.

[Greg]

, along with some rule changes make me look forward to F1 next year.

They still need to lift the ban on testing.

[Oldfisti]

They still need to lift the ban on testing.

+11tyb

[superjohn]

They should have 3 test sessions, 1 per month leading up to the first race in May with public attendance and allow all the teams to share the expense of the track, medical crews etc. That would avoid a little team like Campos or USF1 from getting taken advantage of by richer teams, but still allow for track time to be available to get the cars and drivers dialed in for the first race.

[kopfjäger]

They should have 3 test sessions, 1 per month leading up to the first race in May with public attendance and allow all the teams to share the expense of the track, medical crews etc. That would avoid a little team like Campos or USF1 from getting taken advantage of by richer teams, but still allow for track time to be available to get the cars and drivers dialed in for the first race.

Apply for the job, to regulate that.

[superjohn]

Apply for the job, to regulate that.

  I'll just call my buddy Jean Todt up.

[kopfjäger]

Don't here much about Shuuuy these days.   

[Oldfisti]

Don't here much about Shuuuy these days.   

They just did a small piece about his comeback at the beginning of qualy coverage this morn.